Renville County, Minnesota · Nursing home
Buffalo Lake Health Care Center
4 of 5 overall from CMS
703 West Yellowstone Trail, Buffalo Lake, MN 55314
At a glance
- Overall rating 4 of 5 Above the state average of 3.2
- Nurse time per resident, per day 4.60 hours Above the state average of 4.19
- Nursing staff who left in a year 42.6% Above the state average of 42.2%
- Health citations, last 3 inspection cycles 13 None at the harm level or above
- Fines in 3 years None None listed by CMS
- Certified beds in use 92.4% of 49 beds, on an average day
Arrows only show whether a figure is above or below the state average. They are not a judgment of the home.
Buffalo Lake Health Care Center is a 49-bed nursing home in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota (Renville County). CMS rates it 4 of 5 stars overall as of Sep 2026. It reports 4.60 nurse staffing hours per resident per day, above the Minnesota average of 4.19. CMS lists no fines in the past three years.
- Certified beds
- 49
- Residents per day (average)
- 45.3
- Certified since
- 1991 (35 yrs)
Non profit - Corporation Participates in Medicare and Medicaid
Bed use is this site's calculation: average residents per day divided by certified beds. It is an average, so it does not show today's openings.
Terms used on this page
- CMS
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that publishes the ratings, staffing figures, inspection results and penalties shown here.
- Certified beds
- The number of federally certified beds CMS lists for the home.
- Deficiency or citation
- A federal requirement that inspectors found the home did not meet. Each one gets a letter from A to L for how serious it was and how many residents were affected. What the letters mean
- Actual harm
- Letters G, H and I: actual harm to a resident that is not immediate jeopardy.
- Immediate jeopardy
- Letters J, K and L: the problem caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a resident.
- Inspection cycle
- A standard inspection plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to it. This page shows the three most recent cycles.
- Special Focus Facility (SFF)
- A home CMS has placed under closer oversight because of its inspection record. More about the program
Questions to ask Buffalo Lake Health Care Center
Chosen from this home's public data.
- CMS counts 8 health deficiencies in the latest inspection cycle (the standard inspection on Jan 8, 2026 plus complaint and infection-control inspections); the Minnesota average is 7.1. Which have been corrected?Inspection results in CMS data
- Nursing staff turnover is 42.6%, above the Minnesota average of 42.2%. How often would the same aides care for my relative?Turnover in CMS data
- Reported nurse staffing is 3.90 hours per resident on weekends against 4.60 overall. Who covers Saturdays and Sundays?Weekend staffing in CMS data
More in what to ask on a nursing home tour.
CMS star ratings
- Overall 4 of 5 Minnesota average 3.2
- Health inspections 3 of 5 Minnesota average 2.8
- Staffing 5 of 5 Minnesota average 4.1
- Quality measures 2 of 5 Minnesota average 3.1
The vertical line marks the Minnesota average. Ratings run from 1 to 5. How to read CMS star ratings
Nurse staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, as the home reported to CMS.
What these roles do
Nurse aides give most hands-on daily care, such as help with bathing, dressing and meals. Licensed practical nurses give medications and routine nursing care. Registered nurses assess residents and direct their care.
- All nursing staff 4.60 h Minnesota average 4.19
- Nurse aides 3.37 h Minnesota average 2.52
- Licensed practical nurses 0.48 h Minnesota average 0.61
- Registered nurses 0.76 h Minnesota average 1.06
- All staff, weekends 3.90 h Minnesota average 3.71
How much nurse staffing is enough? All bars share one scale, 0 to 10 hours. The vertical line marks the Minnesota average; the national average for all nursing staff is 3.86 hours.
- Nursing staff turnover42.6%
- Minnesota average42.2%
- Registered nurse turnover0.0%
- Minnesota average38.6%
- Administrators who left0
Quality measures
CMS calculates these from residents' assessments and Medicare claims. They are shown as published, next to the Minnesota and national averages. marks the measures CMS uses in its quality star rating; for those, the rating gives more points for a lower rate.
Long-stay residents
| Measure | This home | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased | 18.5% | 18.2% | 13.9% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | 5.0% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | 0.6% | 1.9% | 0.8% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | 0.6% | 2.6% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms | 1.3% | 4.1% | 12.8% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | 5.4% | 4.0% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 100.0% | 97.4% | 93.6% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | 24.1% | 20.5% | 14.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | 7.7% | 12.5% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 100.0% | 96.1% | 95.5% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | 6.0% | 5.2% | 4.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | 28.1% | 24.5% | 19.0% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | 10.9% | 17.1% | 15.4% |
| ★ Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days | 3.43 | 1.61 | 1.90 |
| ★ Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days | 3.82 | 1.90 | 1.78 |
Short-stay residents
| Measure | This home | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 90.9% | 88.1% | 82.0% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | 3.7% | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Too few residents or stays to report | 82.7% | 79.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission | Too few residents or stays to report | 23.5% | 23.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit | Too few residents or stays to report | 14.8% | 12.0% |
Measure periods: April 2025 to March 2026 for most measures; July 2024 to June 2025 for the flu vaccine measures; January to December 2025 for the hospital and emergency department measures, which CMS risk-adjusts. See the measures on Medicare.gov
Inspection history
Inspectors cited 13 health deficiencies in the three most recent inspection cycles. None was graded as actual harm or immediate jeopardy. 1 was cited in connection with a complaint investigation.
| Standard inspection | Health | Fire safety |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2026 | 8 | 2 |
| Nov 20, 2024 | 0 | 4 |
| Dec 20, 2023 | 5 | 2 |
Minnesota homes averaged 7.1 health deficiencies in the latest cycle; the national average is 9.2. Each cycle's health count covers the standard inspection on that date plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to that cycle.
Health citations, three most recent inspection cycles (13)
-
FPotential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)
-
FPotential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Infection Control · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)
-
FPotential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Designate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.
Infection Control · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)
-
EPotential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
Resident Assessment and Care Planning · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)
Show 8 more
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure therapeutic diets are prescribed by the attending physician and may be delegated to a registered or licensed dietitian, to the extent allowed by State law.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
Infection Control · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 5, 2026)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Complaint investigation · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 28, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 23, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 23, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 23, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Infection Control · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 23, 2024)
What severity letters A to L mean
Each sentence above is the requirement that was not met, in CMS's wording. For the inspection results as Medicare publishes them, open this home's page on Medicare.gov and look under "Health inspections".
Penalties, past three years
CMS lists no fines or payment denials for this home in the past three years.
Minnesota homes averaged 0.8 fines and $24,507 in fine amounts; the national averages are 0.9 and $30,972.
Cost
Not in the public data. CMS does not publish what a nursing home charges.
Ask the home for its daily private-pay rate and whether a bed is open for your coverage. See what Medicare covers and how Medicaid pays for a nursing home.
Compared within Minnesota
- Size229 of 338 by certified beds
- Minnesota average residents per day60.3
- ChainNone listed
- Resident or family councilResident
- Homes in Renville County4
Common questions
What is the CMS star rating for Buffalo Lake Health Care Center?
Buffalo Lake Health Care Center has an overall rating of 4 of 5 stars from CMS as of Sep 2026. Its health inspection rating is 3, staffing is 5 and quality measures is 2.
How many beds does Buffalo Lake Health Care Center have?
Buffalo Lake Health Care Center has 49 certified beds. It averages 45.3 residents per day, about 92.4% of its certified beds.
How much nursing care do residents get at Buffalo Lake Health Care Center?
The home reports 4.60 hours of nurse staffing per resident per day, including 0.76 hours from registered nurses. The Minnesota average is 4.19 hours and 1.06 hours from registered nurses.
Has Buffalo Lake Health Care Center been fined?
CMS lists no fines for this home in the past three years.
Does Buffalo Lake Health Care Center accept Medicare or Medicaid?
CMS lists its participation as "Medicare and Medicaid". Ask the home whether a bed is open for your coverage.
Guides for families looking at this home
- Understanding the recordWhat to ask on a nursing home tourQuestions that turn a home's public record into a useful conversation when you tour, plus what to look for yourself.
- Understanding the recordInspection severity letters A to LHow inspectors grade each deficiency by harm and by how many residents were affected.
- Understanding the recordHow to read CMS star ratingsWhat the overall, health inspection, staffing and quality measure ratings cover, and what they leave out.
Nearest nursing homes
- 4 of 5 Harmony River Living Center 120beds 96.2%in use 4.09nurse hours a day
- 1 of 5 Olivia Restorative Care Center 60beds 74.2%in use 3.62nurse hours a day
- 1 of 5 Franklin Restorative Care Center 40beds 87.5%in use 3.19nurse hours a day
Sorted by straight-line distance. This is not a ranking or a recommendation. Compare all homes in Renville County
Who to call in Minnesota
These offices serve residents of every nursing home in Minnesota.
- Long-term care ombudsman Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care (OOLTC) 1-800-657-3591 (Also 651-431-2555. Calls answered 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday. TDD/TTY: 711. Email MBA.OOLTC@state.mn.us; fax 651-431-7452.) An advocate for residents and their families.
- File a complaint about a nursing home Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) 651-201-4200 (Email: health.ohfc-complaints@state.mn.us. MDH directs suspected maltreatment of a vulnerable adult (abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, unexplained injury) to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC), 844-880-1574 (toll free).) The state agency that inspects nursing homes.
Minnesota staffing, bed-hold and Medicaid rules · Residents' rights in every state
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Sep 1, 2026. CMS Certification Number 245589. See this home's official record on Medicare.gov
See something shown incorrectly? Tell us. This site shows each record as CMS publishes it and cannot change the underlying record.